Yeti Cycles

SB66 Carbon Pro 34 Complete Mountain Bike

Budget builds can strain a designer's resources and values as they sacrifice pure performance in favor of saving a few bucks. Yeti's SB-66 Carbon Pro 34 Complete Mountain Bike, on the other hand, doesn't present this problem, as it's riding on the best of the best to unleash all potential from this top-tier chassis.

XTR, DT Swiss, and Easton adorn this 160mm-travel carbon frame with one of the latest suspension designs from the mountain bike power house in Golden, Co. To start with, the hand-laid, high modulus carbon front and rear triangles knock a whopping 1.5 pounds off their aluminum counterpart -- and that’s without sacrificing anything to the stiffness department. Ensuring precise handling and reliability is the collet-type pivot hardware that provides correct bearing preload while protecting the structural integrity of the carbon fiber.

Enduro Max angular contact bearings fill the bores and offer ultra-tight, flex-free tolerances, while easily managing side loads that send conventional cartridge bearings straight to the dump. However, the heart of the SB line lies in the suspension design. Unlike multi-link systems, which require linkages packed in between the main and rear triangles, Yeti’s Switch Technology features an eccentric mechanism buried low in the frame -- enabling super-short chain stays and a low center of gravity for lively handling.

This compact eccentric continuously adjusts the lower pivot position for a rearward, small-bump-damping axle path that maintains a firm, pedal-friendly platform. Towards the end of the suspension’s travel, the eccentric rotates in the opposite direction for a responsive mid-stroke, and finally to the end position where the suspension becomes progressively stiffer for big hit absorption. Think efficient pedaling, perfectly meshed with big hit capabilities.

Like all factory-prepped Yetis, the SB-66 Carbon has its rear suspension motion controlled by the respected Fox CTD with Kashima. Up front, a 34 Float CTD fork with 150mm of travel matches the rear for a simple user interface and easy tuning. CTD offers three, pre-tuned compression damping options for climbing, trail, and descending.

The Yeti SB-66 Carbon Pro 34 Complete Bike rolls on a DT Swiss wheelset with 240 hubs and XM450TL rims wrapped in Maxxis tires. Drivetrain duty is covered by Shimano's premium XTR components. This includes the shifters, front and rear derailleurs, cranks and cassette. It's a 2 x 10 set up with 38/26T gearing in front and 11 - 36T out back. XTR Trail brakes keep speed in check, while Easton Haven bars and a Thomson X4 stem and Elite seatpost with a WTB saddle comprise the cockpit.

The Yeti SB-66 Carbon Pro 34 Complete Mountain Bike is available in four sizes from Small to X-Large and in the colors Raw/turquoise or Raw/grey.